United kids told: don't blow it

We know all about their ability but this is an opportunity for them to prove themselves

Alex Ferguson

United boss Ferguson is ready to rest his big guns and hand the youngsters a Champions League test in the dead-rubber against Roma tomorrow night.[>

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Key men such as Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic and Edwin Van der Sar are all set to be left at home when United jet out for Italy this morning in order to rest up ahead of the big Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.[>

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But having seen his youngsters humiliated in a Carling Cup defeat against Coventry at Old Trafford earlier this season, Ferguson has made it clear that they must prove their worth in the Olympic Stadium.[>

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Ferguson said: “We wanted to give the young boys experience playing in the Carling Cup against Coventry but they let themselves down.[>

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“There’s no doubt we’ll take some young kids to Rome, though, and it’s a chance for the likes of Jonny Evans, Gerard Pique, Danny Simpson and Chris Eagles to elevate themselves.[>

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“We know all about their ability but this is an opportunity for them to prove themselves. They won’t be on their own. [>

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“They will have back-up from players like John O’Shea, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Louis Saha, Nani and Anderson. Cristiano Ronaldo might possibly be involved as well.[>

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“We have won the group and Roma are guaranteed second place, so there’s no issue with us potentially affecting the outcome of the group.[>

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“But we’re not in the habit of sending teams out to lose.[>

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“We’ll be sending out a team that we think is good enough to win.”[>

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Full-back Simpson, 20, made his Champions League debut in the 4-0 Old Trafford victory against Dynamo Kiev last month.[>

Ferguson has claimed the Salford-born youngster has become a key squad member due to Gary Neville’s long-running injury nightmare and Wes Brown’s contract dispute.[>

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And Simpson admits club skipper Neville has already starting to give him tips about securing a long-term future in his right-back slot.[>

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Simpson said: “I’ve been working on my game with the coaching staff and Gary Neville has also been helpful.[>

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“He has told me I should always stay behind after training to work on my game. If I do that, the gaffer will hopefully give me more matches and that’s how I’ll improve.[>

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“The way I looked at the Dynamo Kiev game was that Sir Alex Ferguson had picked me to start in his team in the Champions League.[>

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“That’s an incredible feeling because he feels that you’re good enough to do the job and you want to repay him.[>

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“Since the Dynamo game, people have been coming up to me and encouraging me.[>

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“When I was putting some petrol in my car the other day, somebody I didn’t know walked over to me and said, ‘You’re doing really well, keep it up’.[>

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“It’s nice when something like that happens because I have supported United all my life and now I’m getting chances in the first-team.” [>

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Ferguson has been handed a fitness boost with South Korea midfielder Ji-Sung Park returning to training after nine months out with a cruciate ligament injury.[>

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Ferguson said: “Ji-Sung is now training with the first team and should be ready in a couple of weeks.[>

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“He’ll be back in the fold in about two weeks’ time, I think.”[>

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Ferguson has admitted an FA charge of using abusive and/or insulting words to a match official.[>

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He was charged after confronting referee Mark Clattenburg at half-time of the game at Bolton on November 24, which they went on to lose 1-0.[>